Ban Narellan Brothel.

On the 12th of January, the Land and Environment court approved the application of a brothel to be opened in the Narellan area. Despite community objections and concerns regarding the location of the proposed brothel, construction is underway and is expected to receive business early next year. The Council, who initially rejected the controversial application, have insisted upon a 'trial period' with which to regulate the hours of operation, but we, the concerned members of the community, request the council reassess the viability of the brothel entirely.

The harm of prostitution is widespread, but continues to remain largely ignored or unnoticed. It is an industry that operates on the basis of exploitation; it encourages the normalisation of sexual slavery and promotes the idea that female bodies are commodities, thereby robbing women of their personhood and dignity. It is also an industry that has been documented to facilitate sexual trafficking and the prostitution of minors. By acquiescing to the development, the Camden Council is legitimizing sexual slavery, exploitation, gender inequality, and sexual trafficking. These are the values the Council will be advocating to our community members and their children - and considering the brothel's adjacency to a public school and sports ground, the message is bound to hit home.

Prostitution is a business that is detrimental to women, men, and society at large. Firstly, it is a business that preys upon and employs women who are made socially vulnerable by extenuating circumstances, and, once employed, compromises their welfare, health and safety; it is a business that teaches men to view women as objects or commodities and inherently promotes gender inequality; and finally - by virtue of the fact that it is institutionally accepted - prostitution is a business that condones and perpetuates these injustices. By introducing a brothel in the Narellan area, the Camden Council are ensuring that the victims of prostitution will be the members of their own community.

By signing this petition, you can inform the 'powers that be' that sexual slavery and inequality is unacceptable, even at a community level! First Narellan, then who knows, maybe we can take on the rest of the world...